Call on NY’s U.S. Senators and Congressional Delegation to ensure the Department of Justice and Attorney General Holder get the message

February 9, 2010

Tell Attorney General Eric Holder and the DOJ: no terror trials in upstate New York!

That is the unmistakable message being sent by New York State Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,I,C-Canandaigua) and Orange County Executive Edward A. Diana to New York’s U.S. Senators and Congressional Delegation, urging them to let Attorney General Holder know the strong opposition to holding the 9/11 terror trials anywhere upstate.

On January 21, Leader Kolb wrote to Attorney General Holder urging that he reverse the DOJ’s ill-conceived policy to hold trials of the 9/11 mastermind and co-conspirators in New York City, citing the tremendous security and financial costs it would impose on taxpayers. Also in January, County Executive Diana spoke out publicly against a suggestion that Orange County be considered as a venue for the terror trials. On February 5, Diana also convened a press conference with state and local officials to express their strong opposition toward any effort to use Orange County as the terror trial site.

“Only in Washington could it be considered a good idea to give murderous, cowardly terrorists, like 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a taxpayer-financed public trial. That the DOJ thought it acceptable shows just how out of touch they are,” said Leader Kolb. “County Executive Diana and I – along with millions of New Yorkers – oppose these trials taking place anywhere upstate and are calling on Senators Schumer, Gillibrand and New York’s Congressional Delegation to make this clear to Attorney General Holder and the DOJ,” Kolb stated.

“I want to thank Leader Kolb and the Assembly Minority Conference for their leadership in opposing these trials anywhere in New York State. I believe our position has been clear from the beginning that New Yorkers have already borne the burden of that most horrific day and we should not be victimized a second time. There can be no doubt this was an act of war and, therefore, these individuals should be treated as enemy combatants and tried by a military tribunal and not accorded the rights and privileges of U.S. Citizens,” said Orange County Executive Edward A. Diana.

For further details on this and other news, follow Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb on Twitter and Facebook.